Ramotar makes another check on Amaila Falls road

A recent check on the progress of the road being built to the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) site by President Donald Ramotar on Monday has highlighted a number of challenges that have to be overcome for its June deadline.

A Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) press release said Ramotar, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn and Technical Consultant Walter Willis flew to the area to inspect infrastructure from the Mabura trail to the Essequibo River.

An aerial view of the Amaila Falls road works. (GINA photo)

The team descended at Butukari to inspect the river crossing conditions before flying over the Kuribrong River into an area Benn described as one of concern which grants physical access to the falls. Fair weather and low water levels aided the team’s ability to inspect critical areas.

The Amaila Falls project is one of several priority ventures being implemented under the Low Carbon Development Strategy.

While financing for the project has yet to be secured, it is likely to be concluded by the “second or third quarter of this year,” the president said at a media briefing on Friday.

Ramotar also said that the Inter-American Develop-ment Bank loan for the project hinges on a suite of protection measures that had been proposed after environmental impact studies had been conducted.

Last year the government dismissed the controversial Fip Motilall from the project and subcontracted the work to a number of companies.